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University of Oxford tortoises
Tortoises at University of Oxford colleges From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The University of Oxford, located in Oxford, England, has a long tradition of keeping tortoises as college pets. Many of the university's 43 colleges have a pet tortoise that an undergraduate student, elected the "Tortoise Keeper,"[1] looks after.
Each Trinity term, the colleges bring their tortoises together for the Annual Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair.[2]
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History and overview
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Tortoise keeping has been observed at the university for many years, though no exact date is known. Corpus Christi's oldest evidence of the practice comes from a college photograph from 1898.[citation needed]
Oriel College has one of the longer records of tortoise keeping, going back as far as 1896,[3] but the first known record was the entrance of Mr Testudo[4] in 1938 when his arrival was announced in The Times newspaper:
On May 28, 1928 at Oriel College Oxford, to Georgina, wife of O.C. Testudo-a son (Whalley George).
Georgious exultant, nato testudine, Whalley.
Est bene, si possis credere Temporbius[3]
In 1948, the then Princess Elizabeth, visited Oxford and upon her visit to Oriel College a photo was captured of her with Mr. Testudo.[4][3]
Oriel College has taken much pride in their tortoises over the years and, early on in the tradition, the tortoise became a symbol of the famous Oriel College Boat Club.[5]
Other than Mr. Testudo, another Oxford tortoise has been in the spotlight. Emmanuelle, or Manny, of Regent's Park College appeared on the television programs Nationwide and Blue Peter in the 1980s.[6] Emmanuelle was bought by the college from Oxford's Covered Market in 1976 and lived at Regent's until her death in 2022.[7] Originally, Emmanuelle was thought to be a male and was named Immanuel or Emanuel,[8] but this was later revealed to be false and her name was changed to Emmanuelle.[7] After her passing, Regent's Park memorialized her in a new stained glass window in their chapel.[9]
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Annual Tortoise Fair and race
Each Trinity Term, since the tradition was started in 1974,[10] Corpus Christi has hosted the Annual Tortoise Fair and race.[2] All proceeds from the Annual Tortoise Fair and race go to a charity.[2] The charity is selected by the Corpus Christi JCR, or Junior Common Room, in a vote. In the past, the proceeds have gone to charities such as the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal,[11] Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention,[2] and Rory's Well.[2]
At the start of each race, the tortoises are placed in a circle by their respective Tortoise Keeper, or more officially called the "Custos Testudium,"[2] inside a larger circle of lettuce.[12] Some of the colleges that do not have a pet tortoise send a student to represent them at the race. These students, called "human tortoises" or "Oscar d'Tortoise,"[13] must eat a head of lettuce, then crawl to the finish line, avoiding any of their smaller competitors on the way.[14] The first tortoise and first human tortoise to the cross the lettuce finish line are the winners.[12]
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Race winners of recent years
- 2025
Foxe - Corpus Christi College[2]
- 2024
Kale - Nuffield College[2]
- 2023
Aristurtle-St. Peter's College[14]
- 2022
Tortilla-Lincoln College[11]
- 1993
Rosa Luxembourg-Balliol College
- 1992
Rosa Luxembourg-Balliol College
- 1980
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College[15]
- 1979
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College
- 1978
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College
- 1977
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College
- 1974
Fred - Oriel College
List of known college tortoises, past and present
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References
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